“Am I right, Mr. Chairman?” — Amie Bensouda Concludes Testimony With a Smile

Amie Bensouda, Lead Counsel of the Janneh Commission

By Fatou Sillah

Former Janneh Commission Lead Counsel, Amie Bensouda, expressed relief on Thursday after completing her testimony before the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee probing the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh.

Bensouda told the committee she was satisfied that no evidence linked her—or anyone associated with her law firm—to the purchase or sale of Jammeh’s assets.

“I am leaving here relieved that there is no evidence that I sold or bought any land from Yahya Jammeh. Neither I, and I want everybody to hear that neither I nor my family members nor lawyers in my firm bought any assets belonging to the ex-president. Mr. Chairman, am I right?” she asked, smiling.

The committee chair responded, “Certainly, certainly.”

Bensouda also addressed widespread public speculation about her alleged involvement, noting that she had anticipated questions on the matter.

“Nobody asked me whether I bought assets, how many cows I bought, or how many vehicles I bought. That is also circulating. You don’t have questions about how many assets I bought? I was waiting to be asked,” she said.

In response, Aji Sainey Kah, Counsel for the National Assembly Select Committee, informed the witness that the investigation is guided strictly by evidence, not by rumors circulating on social media.

“I want to state clearly for the record and categorically that the National Assembly and this special select committee in particular does not focus its work on or rely on rumors or the questions out there. What the committee and the National Assembly as a whole rely on is the evidence that it has received,” she said.